Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph P. McMonigle to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding the Mayaguez Incident

BUFF 40th Aerospare Rescue and Recovery Sq. <rrO- OxmmZ "Super Jolly Green Giant" APO San Francisco 96310 The President The White House Washington DC 20500 Dear Mr President This flag is herewith presented as a tribute to your personal courage associated with the difficult decision you rendered during the SS Mayaguez incident. As professional airmen and proud Americans, we salute you. From the officers and men who did it. Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Commander BUFF 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sq. <rrO- ZmmxQ "Super Jolly Green Giant" APO San Francisco 96310 Lt Col Joseph P McMonigle - Commander Lt Col Gordon L Hall - Operations Officer Pilots Pararescue Capt Barry R Walls MSgt David L Gray Capt Martin A Nickerson MSgt John J Eldridge Capt Paul L Jacobs TSgt Peter S Harding Capt Joseph M Gilbert TSgt Wayne L Fisk Capt Roland W Purser TSgt David L Patterson Capt Robert C Dube SSgt Joseph S Stanaland 1Lt Charles R Greer, Jr SSgt Karl J Froehlich 1Lt Donald R Backlund Sgt William L Hernandez 1Lt Robert D Blough Sgt Thomas J Bateson 1Lt David W Keith Sgt Michael A Brown 1Lt Gary L Weikel Sgt Joseph J Sgroi 1Lt Charles D Brown Sgt Thomas E Beranek 1Lt Robert P Gradle Sgt Ronald A Lundrigan 1Lt Henry M Mason Sgt Bruce M Daly 1Lt Philip M Pacini Sgt Stephen W Lemminn 2Lt Richard L Comer Sgt Randy H Styer 2Lt Keith E Froslie Sgt Burt W Cook, Jr A1C David D Ash Flight Mechanics A1C Dennis W McKiver A1C Frederick H Reinheardt TSgt Billy D Willingham A1C John E Ferris TSgt Thornell Little A1C Lewis L Dunham II TSgt Andrew Straughn, Jr A1C Brad E Marx SSgt Robert G Bounds A1C William E Canavan SSgt Harry H Cash SSgt Jeffery A Donovan SSgt Joseph C Kaiser SSgt Milas L King SSgt Martin M Jablonski SSgt Jesus P DeJesus SSgt Jimmy F Howell Sgt Dale H Thurow 21st Special Operations Sq "Knives" APO San Francisco 96310 Lt Col John D Denham - Commander Maj Howard A Corson, Jr - Operations Officer Pilots Flight Mechanics Capt Terry D Ohleneier TSgt William B Dunbar 1Lt Karl W Poulsen TSgt Michael B Olson 1Lt Richard C Brims SSgt John D Harston 1Lt Richard E Rakitis SSgt Robert A Boissonneault 1Lt Michael B Lackey SSgt Elwood E Rumbaugh 1Lt Mark E Kuno SSgt Marion L Riley 1Lt John H Schramm SSgt Harry H Blanton 1Lt John P Lucas SSgt Donald R McDowell 2Lt Richard Vandegeer SSgt Nick Morales 2Lt Denis L Danielson SSgt Michael C Wilson 2Lt David J Lykens SSgt Ronald A Gross 2Lt Calvin O Wachs Sgt Randy L Hoffmaster 2Lt David W Greer